Clothes-line reel.



N. W. TRAUTNER.

CLOTHES LINE REEL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1913.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914.

LOQQOZSW All/Am 11 12:? Wfi'qgffi je Attorneys Witnesses drawings,

i. NICK W. TRAUTNER, 0F RED WING, MINNESOTA.

CLOTHES-LINE REEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 3, 1914;.

Application filed January 29, 1913. Serial No. 745,050.

To all about it may concern Be it known that I, N101; W. Tnim'rnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Red ing, in the county of Goodhue and State of Minnesota, have invented a new and useful Clothes-Line Reel, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention appertains to a clothes line reel, and aims to provide a device of this character which shall be comparatively simple, substantial, compact, durable and inexpensive in construction, and which shall be convenient, serviceable, and cfiicient in its use.

It is also too object of the present invention to proidde reel for clothes lines and the like which shall be adapted to normally house the line, and which shall permit the line to be readily unrolled and drawn therefrom so that the line may be passed or eX- tended to the various posts, uprights, guides or the like.

The present invention also contemplates the provision of a clothes line reel which 1 sh all. consist of but few parts, the parts being assembled or combined in a novel manner.

ll 'ith the Jloregoing general objects out lined, and with other objects in. view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the

invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction. hereinafter described and claimed, it being imderstood that changes in the precise embodiment of invention herein disclosed can be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

The preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanying wherein similar reference characters have been employed to denote corresponding parts, and wherein Figure l is a side elevation of the device, parts being broken away. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, parts being shown in a slightly different position.

Referring specifically to the drawing, there are provided a pair of side plates 3 l'laving their forward ends formed or fashioned into circular cheeks 4; and having their rear ends or edges secured to the upright edges of a back 5 by means of the screws or other securing members 6. The plates 3 are preferably fashioned from metal, whereas the back 5 is preferably fashioned from wood in order that it may be readily secured to a post, upright, wall or other support by means of the screws 7 passed through the back.

Each of the checks 4- is provided with a concentric annular V-shaped groove or channel S in its inner face and extending along the margin or edge of the cheek. Between the cheeks there is disposed a casing or housing 9, the same being bent or fashioned from a plate of sheet metal or the like, so that the ends of the plate are spaced apart at the front side to provide an opening 10. The ends of the plate forming the casing are preferably curled outward, as designated by the numerals 11 and 12, so as to provide smooth surfaces or bearings for the line which is adapted to pass through the opening 10 in the front of the casing. The plate forming the casing 9 is divided transversely at the bottom or adjoining the lower edge of the opening 10, the portions being hinged together as at 13. Thus, there is provided a hinged section or door 14:, which when it is swung open enlarges the opening 10 so that the reels hereinafter referred to may pass therethrough. The ends of the casing 9 or the edges of the plate from which the casing is formed are engaged in the respective grooves 8, it being noted that the casing is cylindrical so that the casing may be rotated between the checks to the proper position, thus enabling the opening 1.0 to be disposed at the proper point according to the circumstances. The ends of the section or door 14 is also engaged in the grooves S but only sufficiently so to retain the door in position, the door being adapted to be opened forcibly. It will thus be noted that the door may be snapped open or closed, no latch, catch or other locking means being necessary to retain the door in position when closed.

A pair of draft bolts 15 and 15 connect the checks 4: and are disposed at the front portions of the checks or adjoining the ends of the plate forming the casing 9. These bolts 15 and 15 are disposed within the casing 9 and contact with the inner walls thereof, so as to brace the casing against inward movement, as well as clamping the cheeks against the ends of the casing, the ends of the casing binding within the grooves 8 to prevent the casing from turning. In this manner, after the casing has been properly positioned, the bolts may be tig itened so as to clamp the casing in position. The lower bolt 15 is disposed directly inside of the door 14, so as to limit the inward movement of the door.

A suitable shaft 16 is journaled axially through the cheeks 4, and a suitable reel or spool 17 is mounted non-rotat'ably but slidably on the shaft 16 between the cheeks and within the casing or housing. A cotter pin or other retaining member 18 is engaged through the reel and shaft, while a ratchet wheel 19 is mounted on one end of the shaft exterior of the respective cheek plate. This ratchet wheel 19 is preferably provided with an integral crank 20, and a cotter pin or other locking member 21 is passed through the crank 20 and the shaft 16 to lock the parts in position. A pawl or dog 22 is pivoted to the respective cheek 4 so as to engage the top of the ratchet wheel in order to pre vent the retrograde movement of the shaft or reel. This dog, however, may be swung out of engagement from the ratchet wheel in order to permit the wheel to rotate freely in either direction.

With the construction and combination of parts as above described, it will be noted that the casing is clamped in a peculiar manner between the cheeks and snugly houses the reel therein. The structure provided is of advantage in a number of respects, which are obvious, especially in view of what has been said above.

In use, the line is attached to the reel in any suitable manner and passes through the opening 10, in order that the line may be extended to various posts, uprights, guides or the like, and in various directions. Then the line is not in use, the same may be readily reeled in or wound upon the reel by actu ating the crank 20, so that the entire line may be snugly and completely housed within the casing 9. The insertion and withdrawal of the reel is facilitated by means of the door 14, which may be swung open to permit of the passage of the reel, it being noted that the shaft 16 may be withdrawn.

If desired, the door may be removed or omitted, in which event an opening of sufficient size will be provided through which the spool or reel may be readily passed.

W hat is claimed is In a device of the character described, a back, a pair of cheek plates attached thereto, and having inner annular grooves, a. removable shaft journaled through the cheek plates, a removable reel mounted on the shaft between the cheek plates, an arcuate housing plate having its edges engaging the said grooves to permit the plate to be adjusted rotatably about the shaft, clamping means connecting the cheek plates, and a door hinged to one end of the arcuate plate and adapted to be adjusted therewith, and adapted to snap into and out of engagement with the said grooves at the various adjust-- ments of the said arcuate plate.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

NICK l/V. TRAUTNER,

WVitnesses FRED WV. PUTNAM, P. B. GREEN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C." 

